This is a basic shield making tutorial that shows you how to make the shield of achilles like the one in the movie Troy. You only need a few basic supplies and I use the paper mache method which means you just need flour, water and newspaper. But a lot of this is optional and you don't even have to make the paper mache. You can go ahead and make the base of the shield and then paint it! I also have a video tutorial on how to make this shield. it is located at the bottom of this page. I also have a tutorial on how to make the Sword of Achilles. That's right here

First let's take a look at the completed shield:

Start out with a plastic snow sled (this one is a flexible flyer) and you can buy them on amazon.com: Paricon Flying Saucer Sled (3-Pack) and the flexible flyer company also makes a metal one which would be fantastic for this project: Flexible Flyer Steel Saucer You wouldn't even need to paper mache it.

Okay, use some kind of a cutting tool to cut out the notches as shown. I used a hacksaw blade and it worked really well.

Now make the handle out of some clothesline rope. You just wrap it so it has a loop at each end. I wrapped mine in electrical tape.

Now bolt the handle to the center of the shield. use plain old bolts, nuts and washers. You need the washers so it doesn't pull out of the shield or so the handle doesn't pull off.

Next you paper mache the shield.

Paper mache is simply 2 cups of flour, 2 cups of water and 1 tablespoon of salt mixed up well . You dip strips of newspaper in it then apply it in an overlapping fashion so it covers the whole shield.

Now, I recommend you let the coat dry then do another coat. And if you want the shield to be really strong you let that dry and do a third coat.

You can dramatically speed up drying time by using a fan on it.

Painting the Shield

You can of course paint it any way you like but here is how I did it.

I spray painted the entire shield red then let it dry.

From There it was easy to paint the black onto it. I painted the black around the complete edge of the shield then I painted the six legs that form the star pattern. Once that black paint dried I painted the red arrows in the middle of each leg of the star pattern.

Finishing up:

You can see I have some ornaments on the shield. The center gold ornament is the top of a mason jar that I painted. You could just use a circle of cardboard if you need to.

And there are four half spheres mounted on the shield. I cut styrofoam balls in half, painted them and glued them to the shield.

Troy - Director's Cut

Brad Pitt picks up a sword and brings a muscular, brooding presence to the role of Greek warrior Achilles in this spectacular retelling of The Iliad.

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